Bringing Lake Science to the Classroom: Our Newest Educational Program

December 04, 2025| Education, Environment

By: Patrick Krudop

This year marks an exciting expansion of educational outreach at the Lake Hopatcong Foundation. For years, our on-site field trips at Hopatcong State Park, featuring hands-on lessons aboard our Floating Classroom, have helped students connect with the natural world in meaningful ways. In 2025, we’re expanding our commitment to inspire environmental understanding and stewardship with the launch of new in-classroom programming, bringing environmental science lessons directly to students in their schools during the colder months.

During these classroom visits, students from kindergarten through 12th grade engage with dynamic, age-appropriate lessons on topics ranging from lake food webs and biodiversity to watershed science and the interconnectedness of living things. Whether they’re discovering how energy moves through an aquatic ecosystem or examining how human choices affect local habitats, each presentation is designed to spark curiosity and help students understand their role in protecting the natural world.

We are thankful to the Alice C. Tyler Perpetual Trust and BASF for their sustained support, which has been instrumental in launching this education program. Especially impactful is the program’s ability to reach grade levels we do not typically serve through our on-site field trips, introducing our environmental education to new students while extending learning opportunities through the colder months. In its inaugural year, we expect to reach more than 900 students across six schools.

With our spring and fall field trips, summer Floating Classroom experiences, and now in-classroom programs, we’re creating a full spectrum of year-round learning opportunities for all ages that inspire the next generation of environmental stewards! We look forward to growing this program and sharing the meaningful moments and discoveries happening in classrooms throughout our region.

Support for our 2025-2026 in-classroom programming was provided by: